During training camp, there was a lot of talk about how good the Liberty offensive line could be. Through the first seven games of the season, that talk has proven to be true, and this unit has had a large hand on the Flames’ 7-0 start to the season.
Behind the offensive line, Liberty has the second best rushing attack in the country, ranks second in the country in time of possession, and 12th in the country in allowing just 7 sacks.
“They’ve obviously handled their business each week,” said Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell. “Twofold, you want to be able to control the line of scrimmage. You want to be able to run the ball when nobody expects you to run it and then when everybody in the stadium knows you need to run it you need to be able to run it. Two, they need to be able to protect the quarterback, and, on top of that, be able to protect the quarterback that likes to run around a lot. That’s a challenge.”
Being this good is one thing, but for the Flames’ offensive line to be such a strength to the team is even more telling given that the unit had to replace two starters and a total of six offensive linemen who were in the two-deep from last year.
Add in a preseason injury to Brendan Schlittler, the team’s starting right guard, and the first year coaching staff had to patch this offensive line together with several newcomers.
“I think they’ve done a nice job of jelling,” said Chadwell. “We had the injury to Brendan early on. Now everybody had to adjust to these things. That group has done a really good job chemistry wise.”
While Schlittler has proven to be a strong leader not only for this unit but the entire team despite his injury, X’Zauvea Gadlin has stepped into the leadership role on the field. After Brendan’s injury, Gadlin transitioned from a starting tackle to the vacated right guard spot.
Jonathan Graham is another veteran who has been in Liberty’s program for a few years, and he has solidified himself as the team’s starting left guard, a spot he earned last year. Another returner, Chase Mitchell, has moved into the starting lineup and is getting significant playing time for the first time in his career as he’s the team’s starting left tackle.
After those three, it has been incoming transfers who have been strong for Liberty on the offensive line. Xavior Gray, a transfer from Akron, has taken over at right tackle while West Virginia transfer Jordan White is the team’s starting center. It has been a bit of a learning curve for White at center as this is his first year playing significant time at that position, he didn’t even play center in high school.
If there is a weakness to the unit, it’s that the Flames don’t have a ton of depth on the offensive line. Texas Tech transfer Jack Tucker is the only other lineman who has consistently played throughout the season.
“X’Zauvea and Jon have played a lot of football,” Chadwell said. “Jordan has really solidified doing a center. He’s been a great addition for us. Chase Mitchell is playing, Jack Tucker, Xavior Gray, those guys have been able to connect and communicate, build some good chemistry. They take a lot of personal pride in what they do. We’ve developed from Week 1 to now. We thought that could be a strength and it has been. I’m proud of those guys and how they’ve competed.”
Averaging 274.6 yards per game on the ground, the Flames are on their way to having the best rushing attack the program has ever seen. The previous best mark for a Liberty team was 2,614 rushing yards in 2003 when the Flames averaged 217.8 yards per contest.
Coach Chadwell, dating back to his time as a head coach at North Greenville, is 28-0 when his teams rush for 300 yards or more. The Flames will look to continue that strong play from the offensive line Tuesday night at Western Kentucky in a battle of the two CUSA preseason favorites.
